AU Mic e
The parameters of this planet are disputed or ambiguous in the scientific literature.
AU Mic e is a Neptune-like planet orbiting the M1 V star AU Mic in the constellation Microscopium. It lies about 32 light-years from Earth and was discovered in 2025 using the radial velocity method.
Is AU Mic e in the Habitable Zone?
The position of AU Mic e relative to the habitable zone of AU Mic cannot be precisely determined from the available orbital data.
Habitable zone of AU Mic: 0.265–0.687 AU (conservative: 0.336–0.651 AU), per Kopparapu et al. (2014). Earth orbits the Sun at 1 AU.
See the full interactive habitable-zone view in the Exoplanet Explorer app ›
Orbit and Year Length
A year on AU Mic e — one full orbit around AU Mic — lasts 33.1 Earth days, shorter than Mercury's 88-day year.
How Was AU Mic e Discovered?
AU Mic e was discovered in 2025 using the radial velocity method, with observations from Mauna Kea Observatory.
The radial velocity method measures the subtle wobble of a star caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet, visible as periodic shifts in the star's light spectrum. The size of the wobble reveals the planet's minimum mass.
How Far Away Is AU Mic e?
AU Mic e is 31.7 light-years (9.7 parsecs) from Earth. Light arriving here tonight left the planet around the year 1995. A probe traveling at the speed of Voyager 1 — about 17 km/s, the fastest outbound spacecraft ever launched — would need roughly 557,920 years to make the journey.
The Host Star: AU Mic
AU Mic
- Spectral type
- M1 V
- Surface temperature
- 3,540 K (Sun: 5,772 K)
- Mass
- 0.64 M☉
- Radius
- 0.86 R☉
- Luminosity
- 0.1053 L☉
- Age
- 0.0 billion years (Sun: 4.6)
The AU Mic Planetary System
AU Mic e is one of 4 known planets in the AU Mic system. Its siblings:
AU Mic e — Complete Data
| Mass | 21.10 Earth masses (0.066 Jupiter masses) |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 33.11 days |
| Distance from Earth | 31.7 light-years (9.7 parsecs) |
| Constellation | Microscopium |
| Discovery method | Radial Velocity |
| Discovery facility | Mauna Kea Observatory |
| Discovery year | 2025 |
Data: NASA Exoplanet Archive, last updated 2025-10-02. Earth Similarity Index: PHL @ UPR Arecibo.
Frequently Asked Questions About AU Mic e
Is AU Mic e habitable?
AU Mic e is not known to orbit within the habitable zone of AU Mic, and as a Neptune-like planet it is an unlikely candidate for life as we know it.
How far away is AU Mic e?
AU Mic e is about 32 light-years from Earth in the constellation Microscopium. A spacecraft traveling as fast as Voyager 1 (about 17 km/s) would need roughly 557,920 years to get there.
How long is a year on AU Mic e?
One orbit around AU Mic takes 33.1 Earth days — short enough that 11 of its years would fit into one Earth year.
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